The Oklahoma Bar Journal September 2025

F rom the E xecutive D irector

Strictly Business: Why We’re Streamlining the 2025 OBA Annual Meeting

By Janet Johnson

O UR ANNUAL MEETING has always been one of my favorite traditions – a time to see familiar faces, meet new ones, and feel the shared pride of belonging to this profession. Over the years, it’s been part conference, part reunion, and part celebration. But just like the practice of law, our traditions sometimes need to adapt to meet the realities of our members’ lives today. That’s why, after a lot of thought and listening to your feedback, we’ve decided to make a change: This year, our Annual Meeting will focus solely on official bar business. I want to share why this change makes sense and why I think it will serve all of us well. Meeting exists for one reason: to take care of the OBA’s official business. This is the moment when we elect leaders, vote on bylaw changes, hear reports, and make decisions that shape the way we serve members and the public. These aren’t box-checking exercises; they’re the very foundation of our association. By dedicating the Annual Meeting exclusively to these GETTING BACK TO THE CORE PURPOSE At its heart, the Annual

Bar business underway at the 2024 Annual Meeting. The 2025 OBA Annual Meeting will take place Nov. 6-7 at the Sheraton Oklahoma City Downtown Hotel. More information is on page 61 of this issue and online at www.okbar.org/annualmeeting.

different times of the year. Others have said they’d like to separate the business of the association from the educational and social parts of our community. By streamlining the Annual Meeting, we are making it easier for more members to participate in the governance process without commit ting to a multi-day conference. You can attend for this core purpose – the decision-making – and fit it more easily into your schedule.

responsibilities, we can focus on more offerings for continuing legal education and other events throughout the year. YOU SPOKE, WE LISTENED Over the past few years, we’ve heard from many of you that while you value the Annual Meeting, the reality is that busy calendars and long travel days make it hard to attend. Many members prefer to complete CLE on their own schedules or at

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THE OKLAHOMA BAR JOURNAL